Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-11-24
ARCHIE'S REFORMATION.
A Fateful Experience Down in the
Peggy Pit.

Archie Cray's reformation began
that June day in England. We were
both colliers, and had been working
together in the Philadelphia colliery,
near Durham, for year and six
months 1t was slaves work and poor
pay, besides.
Archie was but one-and-twenty, vet
he was called "the worst man in the
mines," an that was sayin' IDEAL,
for there was many black heart down
in the Peggy pit Three hundred an
fifty of us in all, hard at work that
never-to-be-forgatten day.
'Don't go down this mornin'r'
pleaded Archie's sister Dora, whom he
met just out of Durham. 81 can't get
rid of the awful thought that some
things going to happen" she said,
low and tremblin'.
"An' sposin' it doesp" returned
Archie Cray, with coarse laugh.
You're far too squeamish for n min
er's sister Go back to town. We can
take care of ourselves, an need no in
reference.
With that, he stalked on towards the
mines. But l stopp'd with bit of
comfortin' word: 1--WE are in Gods
hands, Miss Dora, and if any thing
should happen try to remember that
He doeth all things we'll, and in case
of an accident l promise to look out
for Archie. He isn't bad lad at
heart. It's the bad company thats
transformed an deformed him. You
must pray for us both" An with a
fearful II will' from Dora, we parted.
AT noon, that day, something did
happen. A fire broke out in the col
liery, caused by an explosion of fire
damp in the Peggy" An one wild
cry of horror assembled to the pits
mouth from hundreds of blackened
lips.
Archie was close beside me, but
could not see his face for the smoke.
Jack" he groaned, "Dora's warning
was a prophecy. Wen die in the pit
like sheep
Life remains to us yet > said !, IAN
there's gleam of hope in that"
But, indeed, it was only CLEAN.
Some of our number had been killed
instantly. We stumbled over their
bodies as we CROPPED about in the dark
ness an confusion. Many were down
on their knees prayin' for the first
time in their sinful lives.
1t was an awful moment! Far up
overhead we could hear the faint
sounds of the outside commotion.
Then came echoes of weepin' and
wailin', an we knew that distracted
friends and relatives had already
reached the colliery. wondered if
sweet Dora Cray was among them, her
blue eyes dim an tear-filled.
An Archie was wondcrin' too. ''Ii
Dora's up there, the suspense may kill
her!'' he cried hoarsely. ''She's as
delicate as flower, an, she loves me,
worthless as am, Jack Morton" he
added in changed tone, "if God
spares my ill-spent life this day,
promise you, an Him, it shall be a
different one in the future"
''It's solemen covenant lad, an
mind you keepit" said ], with hearty
hand pressure.
An just then dull heavy sounds
came down the shaft, tellin' that the
"reliefs" were at work, an preparin'
for descent.
But this was followed by an awful
rush of water from the Sutton seam.
We fled to the farthest corner, but like
an unrelenting foe, it slowly but sure
ly approached us.
Death by drowning now seemed oul
threatened doom. But the work Of
rescue had already begun. The men
with large families dependent upor
them, went up first. 1t was Archie
suggestion, an honored the lad for it
The small boys were sent up next
an all that time the water was stead
lily rising When it reached our knees
full hundred had been rescued. W.
could hear the loud shouts of rejoicin
that greeted thcm, as the last batcl
were taken from the shaft. But it wa
only an echo, in which we had nj
share. An over two hundred of u
yet remained. The water covered tn
dead. Who they were, we could no
tell.
The next called for by the "reliefs,
were the old men. Some had alread,
lost fOothold, and were strugglin' il
the inky lake below an about us
Archie Cray's strong arms saved NOR
than one life in that awful hour Al
who could. worked with desperate will
Fear had palsied some, an made COW